Sensitivity of cuprous azide towards heat and impact

Abstract

"Rates of thermal decomposition of azide at six different temperatures have been measured. The sigmoid shapes of the curves representing increase in pressure with time suggest that a given temperature a fixed number of nuclei are formed at the end of the induction period. The nuclei increase in size in three dimensions. The radius of any nucleus at any instant (t)is directly proportional to (t-t/Sub/o)where t/Sub/o is the induction period. The activation energy involved in thermal has been found decomposition to be 26.5K calories. It is suggested that this activation energy corresponds to the energy required for thermal transition of an electron 3 d band to the Fermi level of the metallic copper nuclei. The impact sensitivity and induction period necessary for explosion at various temperatures for crystalline and precipitated samples of cuprous azide have been measured. The results indicate that cuprous azide is more sensitive towards heat and impact than lead azide. The impact sensitivity of cuprous azide is found to increase in crystal size."